Which carriers shuttle hydrogen to the electron transport chain?

Prepare for the AQA A-Level PE Energy Systems Exam. Study with comprehensive flashcards and multiple-choice questions, featuring hints and explanations. Ace your exam with confidence!

Multiple Choice

Which carriers shuttle hydrogen to the electron transport chain?

Explanation:
The key idea is that hydrogen carriers deliver electrons (and accompanying protons) to the electron transport chain. NADH and FADH2 are the reduced cofactors produced in glycolysis, the link reaction, and the Krebs cycle, and they hand off their stored energy to the chain by donating electrons. As NADH and FADH2 are oxidized, the energy powers proton pumping across the inner mitochondrial membrane, creating the gradient that drives ATP synthesis. Oxygen is the final electron acceptor, forming water, while glucose, glycogen, ATP, and ADP play other roles in energy supply and transfer, not as the carriers that shuttle hydrogen to the chain.

The key idea is that hydrogen carriers deliver electrons (and accompanying protons) to the electron transport chain. NADH and FADH2 are the reduced cofactors produced in glycolysis, the link reaction, and the Krebs cycle, and they hand off their stored energy to the chain by donating electrons. As NADH and FADH2 are oxidized, the energy powers proton pumping across the inner mitochondrial membrane, creating the gradient that drives ATP synthesis. Oxygen is the final electron acceptor, forming water, while glucose, glycogen, ATP, and ADP play other roles in energy supply and transfer, not as the carriers that shuttle hydrogen to the chain.

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